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Decluttering

One Step at a Time

By Elaine GallagherPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Decluttering
Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash

Many of us have had the opportunity to declutter now that we have been at home for months on end. We spend time in each room in our homes and can honestly say we can eliminate much of our clutter, or use it for that matter. How many times do we buy something and it just sits there? How many times have you literally gone through expiration dates? Well, let’s take a look at one room at a time.

Kitchen:

The first thing we will declutter in our kitchens is our refrigerator and our pantry. Read all expiration dates and toss products you really don’t use or want to make room for what you need. Clean all the shelves in your refrigerator and pantry area before putting things back. When placing products back think of a clever way to store them so that you will not forget those crackers or that can of corn in the back. I store my canned foods that expire sooner in front of those that I have more time to use. This will make less waste in the long run (hopefully).

Once your pantry and refrigerator are emptied, go through each cabinet and organize dishes and mugs and serving bowls. If you have too many of one item you may want to toss it out. It is a good idea to have a pad near you so you can make note of what you may need on your next trip to the store. After the cabinets, check the drawers. Get rid of old dish towels and pot holders. Organize your flatware and discard those odd pieces that go with nothing. Or use them next time you eat and toss them out. That always feels good. Don’t forget to check the cabinet under the sink where we tend to throw old sponges and cleaning products. Organize them, discard old items and make note on your list if you need to buy a storage bin.

By Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash

Before you are done with the kitchen, scan the countertops and see what items can be stored away to have less clutter. For example, spices should be in a pantry and a small blender you only use occasionally can be in a cabinet.

Bathroom:

In the bathroom, we tend to put items in our medicine cabinets and under our vanity that stay there forever. In the medicine cabinet, clean each shelf, check for expiration dates and organize by product type. This is also a good place for your list especially if you just discarded all your pain relievers. Next, look under the vanity and use the same strategy as you did under the kitchen sink. Clean it out and discard old, rotten looking items and organize in a nice bin or bins underneath. One bin can be for cleaners and the other can be for incidentals like toilet paper or air fresheners.

By Christian Mackie on Unsplash

Living Room:

Decluttering your living room is easy unless you want to get rid of furniture. Let’s assume you don’t. Look at the knickknacks you have around and decide if they are all necessary. Those you get rid of can be packed in a donation box. Look on tables, under tables and on sides of couch for old magazines, mail and brochures that have just piled up. Those can go in the garbage. Just getting rid of a few items in your living room will make it appear larger.

By Nasim Keshmiri on Unsplash

Bedrooms:

In the bedrooms, you can use the same strategy as the living room but first hang up or put in laundry any clothes you have left around. Discard old papers and magazines and put things in closets that were left out. Add to your donation box as you go along.

The hardest part of organizing your bedroom is the closet. Check the floor first and either hang or toss an item. Go through items in your closet and honestly get rid of anything (donate please) that you haven’t worn in years or you have outgrown (especially being home during Covid). Making donation bags always makes you feel better about getting rid of your stuff. I try to do my closet each season by getting rid of the season’s clothes I never wear before packing them away for next year.

By Burgess Milner on Unsplash

This is a pretty cut and dry method of simple decluttering. Think about someone going to your house for you because you were rushed to the hospital and be proud that they will be impressed by how neat they find your home. I think being home during this pandemic has made me neater and also given me more time to organize my life. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! You can read an article on my blog “Life Interrupted” by going to https://egallagher713.wordpress.com/life-interrupted.

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media and send it to someone you think will like it too!

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About the Creator

Elaine Gallagher

I am an elementary educator and freelance writer. I enjoy writing about education, health and fitness and every day life issues. You can find my writing at egallagher.contently.com and my blog, Just Me, https://egallagher713.wordpress.com

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